RONNY Deila, the Celtic manager, last night predicted Carlton Cole, the former England striker who will train with the Scottish champions this week, can be a future leader for the Scottish champions.
Cole, a free agent after parting company with Barclays Premier League club West Ham United at the end of last season, attended the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Parkhead yesterday.
The 31-year-old, the former Chelsea, Wolves, Charlton Athletic and Aston Villa centre forward who has won seven caps for his country, will hold talks with club officials this week.
However, Deila, who only has Nadir Ciftci and Leigh Griffiths to choose from, believes if he shows up well at Lennoxtown this week and is interested in moving to Scotland he can add another dimension to his side up front.
“He was here to look at the game,” he said after the emphatic 6-0 win over Paul Hartley’s side. “He wants to see the city and the club and meet us. We will have talks with him and see him in training as well. Then we will see if something is going to happen or not.
“He has been in London his whole life so he has to see what he is coming to and whether he likes it. And whether we do, too. We’ll see how long he will be here for. For this week, I think.
“I think he is a very good football player. He has shown he can score goals and is different to what we have. He is a target man, very good in the air and strong. If everything fits it could be for us.
“The experience he has is also positive. He is a very positive guy – social, intelligent and can be a leader in the group.”
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